Clinical Research Directory

Impact Evaluation of the Digital Connect Project for Homebound Older Adults

The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Digital Connect Project on increasing functional capacity defined by the WHO-ICOPE and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among homebound older adults.

Emotional Well-being and Measures of Healthy Aging

This randomized control study is designed to understand the role of a positive psychology intervention (PARK: Positive Affect Regulation sKills) in biological aging and well-being. PARK provides a series of positive emotion skills in a self-guided online format, making the program accessible and convenient. Our main aims are: Aim 1: To explore the effects of PARK on psychological well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety, positive affect). Aim 2: To explore the effects of PARK on biological age as defined by DNA methylation (DNAm) GrimAge and electrocardiogram-age (ECG-age), as well as physiological well-being in adults (e.g., cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal functioning, etc.).

Healthy Lifetime - Phase 2

HealthyLifetime (HL) is a person-centered program that enables older adults to maximize health and optimize functioning - the necessary requisite to successfully remaining independent in their preferred home setting as long as possible, i.e., to age in place.

Feasibility and Effects of Laughter-imitation Therapy (LIT)

Background: The mental wellbeing of the institutional population has to be promoted, particularly after the serious hit by the pandemic. Objectives: 1. To develop a LIT intervention to promote mental wellbeing of institutional older adults 2. To explore the feasibility and acceptability of such intervention; 3. To explore the potential effect of the intervention Design and subject: A pilot cluster randomized control trial will be conducted. The target population is institutional older adults. About 30 participants will be recruited from 2 nursing homes. The intervention is one-month imitated laughter practice. Each practice session lasts for 3 minutes once a day, giving a total of 21 minutes per week and the waitlist control group will be under usual care for the first 8 weeks. Then, they will start intervention after the 8 week, and receive two additional outcome assessments. A brief one-to-one training will be offered and a trained research assistant (RA1). Further in-person demonstration and return demonstration will be conducted until participant is able to demonstrate the Duchenne smile on their own. RA1 will be on-site for two days in the first week and one day in the second week to support the participants. At the end of the intervention, qualitative feedback will be collected from purposive sample until data saturation. Instruments: Chinese version including the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), 4-item Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), 5-min Montreal Cognitive Assessment, FRAIL scale, Geriatric Adverse Life Events Scale (GALES). Main outcome measures: Feasibility and acceptability of laughter-imitation therapy (LIT) Data analysis: Descriptive statistics will be calculated for participants' characteristics, practice frequency, satisfaction, and health outcomes. Linear mixed-effects models will be used to evaluate health outcomes. Content analysis will be conducted for qualitative feedback. Expected results: The intervention is expected to be feasible and acceptable to institutional older adults as a means for promoting mental wellbeing, and potential beneficial effects will be demonstrated.

Transcranial Pulse Stimulation of the Brain

This study will investigate transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) as a method of enhancing cognitive and neural function. The study team will apply this low intensity, magnetically pulse technology to key brain regions in a randomized, sham-controlled trial (RCT). The study will determine the magnitude of changes in cognitive function and brain function and structure between a pre- and post-stimulation among 10 typically-aging older adults and 10 patients with mild dementia.

Effect of Aromatherapy for Facial Aesthetics in Alleviating Signs of Aging: Pilot Study

Introduction: aesthetics is one of the specialties for professional nurses and presents a dialogue with Aromatherapy, a practice that uses essential oils (EO) from aromatic plants, being one of the most used integrative therapies for beauty care, youth and well-being. EOs are volatile compounds extracted from the most diverse parts of plants and some, such as geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), have antioxidant action, acting in the regeneration and maintenance of skin tissue, becoming a potential ally in the prevention and/or treatment of wrinkles, as well as general skin aging. Several anti-aging strategies are available, but consumers in aesthetics have increasingly prioritized their health and well-being, desiring non-invasive products and treatments, of natural origin, that guarantee safety and effectiveness. Objective: to evaluate the effect of Aromatherapy in alleviating the signs of aging on the facial skin of women, through a protocol of topical facial application, twice a day, with geranium EO (Pelargonium graveolens) diluted at 1% in Biocompatible Serum Gel All.me Beauty. Method: pilot study with a Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) design, using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) as a reference, in its extension to randomized pilot and feasibility trials, double-blind (researcher and statistician). The sample will consist of 38 participants, estimating a loss of 10% throughout the study, who will be randomized between the Placebo Group (G1), whose treatment will be with pure use of the carrier base, and Intervention Group (G2), whose treatment will be with geranium EO diluted to 1% in All.me Beauty® Biocompatible Serum Gel. Participants must perform self-application at home, following a determined protocol and the intervention will respect a standard, in accordance with the guidelines of the manufacturer of the equipment used to measure the participants\' progress in terms of wrinkles, hydration and elasticity of the facial skin, these being: Visioscan ® VC 20 Plus, Corneometer® CM 825 and Cutometer® Dual MPA 580.

Heat Therapy, Functional Capacity, and Vascular Health in Older Adults

To test the hypothesis that home-based leg heat therapy improves functional capacity, vascular function, and exercise hyperemia in older adults.

Prevalence, Determinants and Natural History of Frailty and Pre-frailty in Elderly People

Frailty syndrome (i.e. frailty) is a geriatric syndrome which relies on the reduction of multisystem reserve capacity. Frail people have a lower potential to respond to external stressors and various life incidents as well as they present a weak prognosis particularly in cardiovascular diseases. Yet, frailty is not only a set of physical deficits, but it also concerns psychological and social dimensions of human functioning. Hence, an approach to frailty should be multidimensional because such a concept more adequately reflects a functional degradation in the elderly. Frailty is usually associated with the impaired condition of circulatory system, and therefore, an identification of subclinical cardiovascular abnormalities is paramount in the frailty prevention and treatment. Another potential mechanism which may predispose to frailty is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This system plays a crucial role in the response to internal or external stressors such as diseases and activities of daily living. An impairment of the autonomic nervous system function may maintain or accelerate the frailty process. In this scientific project, a comprehensive echocardiography will investigate cardiac function with a particular attention to features which typically change with age, like flow parameters and chambers sizes. The activity of the autonomic nervous system will be explored with the analysis of heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory signals. The study participants will also undergo routine medical examination and a number of additional tests, including: assessment of cognitive function, psychological condition, nutrition status, activities of daily living, and risk of falls. The study group will comprise community dwelling elderly individuals over the age of 65 years who get around by themselves. After 2 years, the participants will be re-examined for their frailty and independence status, as well as their survival will be checked with the National Health Found electronic system. The aim of this project is to seek for factors determining frailty and to explore the frailty impact on the elderly people survival. Particular attention will be paid to the multidimensional frailty which is a new concept of the functional decline in the elderly. In addition, the prevalence of different modes of frailty in Polish community will be investigated. The results of this research should help to establish preventative and therapeutic strategies against frailty.